Kolkata Kali Ghat Temple

Kolkata, the former capital of British India, is one of the major cities of the country. Among its many historic localities, Kalighat is perhaps the most famous. This densely populated neighbourhood houses the renowned Kalighat Kali Temple, one of the most important temples in the region. Many believe that the very name Kolkata (Calcutta) is derived from Kalighat and the temple of Kali located here.

Kalighat Kali Temple Tower

Kalighat Kali Temple is traditionally regarded as one of the 51 Shakti Peeths, the sacred sites associated with the Divine Mother. According to tradition, when the body of Dakshayani (Sati) was dismembered, the toes of her right foot are believed to have fallen at this very spot. Because of this belief, Kalighat became an important centre of Shakti worship.

However, the structure that we see today is not very ancient. The present temple is about two centuries old, having been built in the early nineteenth century. Earlier shrines are believed to have existed here but were destroyed or rebuilt several times before the current temple took shape at the same sacred location.

On the way to Kalighat Kali Temple

The temple attracts a very large number of devotees every day. The approach roads leading to the shrine are always crowded, and on most days one may have to spend two or three hours in order to have a darshan of the Goddess. The narrow lanes around the temple are full of activity, and visitors will also encounter many pandas (traditional temple intermediaries) and beggars trying to approach devotees.

The icon of Goddess Kali here is quite distinctive. The image is made of touchstone (a black stone) and displays three eyes and a long protruding tongue, with four hands. The style of this icon is very different from what one sees in many other Kali temples.

Inside the temple premises there is a rectangular altar about three feet in height known as Sosthi Tala or Monosha Tala. It contains the samadhi of Brahmananda Giri, who is regarded as one of the early figures associated with the present temple. Nearby stands the tree which, according to local belief, marks the spot where the toe of the Goddess fell.

The temple complex also contains two sacrificial altars known as Hari-Kath. Traditionally one was used for buffalo sacrifice and the other for goat sacrifice, practices that were historically associated with certain forms of Shakti worship.

Apart from the Kali shrine, the temple complex also includes a small shrine dedicated to Radha and Krishna, reflecting the diversity of devotional traditions present within the premises.

Happy travelling.